THE ESPECIAL DUTY OF PASTORS OF CHURCHES. 77
levelled to the condition of the auditory; speaking what men can, without consideration of what they ought, — are things that will make men weary of preaching, when their minds are not influenced with outward advantages, as much as make others weary in hearing of them. And, (5.) All these, in the whole discharge of their duty, are to be constantly accompanied with the evidence of zeal for the glory of God and compassion for the souls of men. Where these are not in vigorous exercise in the minds and souls of them that preach the word, giving a demonstration of themselves unto the con- sciences of them that hear, the quickening form, the life and soul of preaching, is lost.
All these things seem common, obvious, and universally acknow- ledged; but the ruin of the ministry of the most for the want of them, or from notable defects in them, is or may be no less evi- dently known. And the very naming of them (which is all at pre- sent which I design) is sufficient to evidence how great a necessity there is incumbent on all pastors of churches to give themselves unto the word and prayer, to labour in the word and doctrine, to be con- tinually intent on this work, to engage all the faculties of their souls, to stir up all their graces and gifts, unto constant exercise in the dis- charge of their duty; for "who is sufficient for these things?" And as the consideration of them is sufficient to stir up all ministers unto fervent prayer for supplies of divine aid and assistance for that work which in their own strength they can no way answer, so is it enough to warn them of the avoidance of all things that would give them a diversion or avocation from the constant attendance unto the dis- charge of it.
When men undertake the pastoral office, and either judge it not their duty to preach, or are not able so to do, or attempt it only at some solemn seasons, or attend unto it as a task required of them, without that wisdom, skill, diligence, care, prudence, zeal, and com- passion, which are required thereunto, the glory and use of the mini- stry will be utterly destroyed.
2. The second duty of a pastor towards his flock is continual fer- vent prayer for them, James v. 16; John xvii. 20; Exod. xxxii. 11 ; Deut. ix. 1 8 ; Lev. xvi. 24 ; 1 Sam. xii. 23 ; 2 Cor. xiii. 7, 9 ; Eph. i. 15-19, iii. 14; Phil. i. 4; Col. i. 3; 2 Thess. i. 11. "We will give ourselves continually to prayer," Acts vi. 4. Without this, no man can or doth preach to them as he ought, nor perform any other duty of his pastoral office. From hence may any man take the best measure of the discharge of his duty towards his flock. He that doth constantly, diligently, fervently, pray for them, will have a testimony in himself of his own sincerity in the discharge of all other pastoral duties, nor can he voluntarily omit or neglect any of them. And as for those who are negligent herein, be their pains, labour, and travail in other
78 TRUE NATURE OF A GOSPEL CHURCH.
duties never so great, they may be influenced from other reasons, and so give no evidence of sincerity in the discharge of their office. In this constant prayer for the church, which is so incumbent on all pastors as that whatever is done without it is of no esteem in the sight of Jesus Christ, respect is to be had, — (1.) Unto the success of the word, unto all the blessed ends of it, among them. These are no less than the improvement and strengthening of all their graces, the direction of all their duties, their edification in faith and love, with the entire conduct of their souls in the life of God, unto the enjoy- ment of him. To preach the word, therefore, and not to follow it with constant and fervent prayer for its success, is to disbelieve its use, neglect its end, and to cast away the seed of the gospel at ran- dom. (2.) Unto the temptations that the church is generally exposed unto. These greatly vary, according unto the outward circumstances of things. The temptations in general that accompany a state of outward peace and tranquillity are of another nature than those that attend a time of trouble, persecution, distress, and poverty ; and so it is as unto other occasions and circumstances. These the pastors of churches ought diligently to consider, looking on them as the means and ways whereby churches have been ruined, and the souls of many lost for ever. With respect unto them, therefore, ought their prayers for the church to be fervent. (3.) Unto the especial state and condition of all the membets, so far as it is known unto them. There may be of them who are spiritually sick and diseased, tempted, afflicted, bemisted, wandering out of the way, surprised in sins and miscarriages, disconsolate and troubled in spirit in a pecu- liar manner. The remembrance of them all ought to abide with them, and to be continually called over in their daily pastoral sup- plications. (4.) Unto the presence of Christ in the assemblies of the church, with all the blessed evidences and testimonies of it. This is that alone which gives life and power unto all church assem- blies, without which all outward order and forms of divine worship in them are but a dead carcase. Now, this presence of Christ in the assemblies of his church is by his Spirit, accompanying all ordinances of worship with a gracious, divine efficacy, evidencing itself by blessed oj)erations on the minds and hearts of the congregation. This are pastors of churches continually to pray for; and they will do so who understand that all the success of their labours, and all the accep- tance of the church with God in their duties, do depend hereon, (o.) To their p)reservatio7i in faith, love, and fruitfuluess, with all the duties that belong unto them, etc.